Sulcalization
Encyclopedia
In phonetics
, sulcalization is the pronunciation of a sound, typically a sibilant consonant
such as English s and z, with a deep groove running along the back of the tongue that focuses the airstream on the teeth, producing a more intense sound. This is accomplished by raising the sides of the back of the tongue ("lateral contraction") and leaving a hollow along the mid-line. It is not clear if all sibilants are grooved in this manner; Catford (1977) observed that the degree of sulcalization differs between places of articulation as well as between languages, but no language is known to contrast a grooved and non-grooved sibilant. English [ɹ], which allows various tongue positions without apparent distinction, may also receive its characteristic quality from being sulcal.
In phonology
and historical linguistics
, sulcalization is the development of such a groove in a non-sulcal consonant. For example, close vowel
s trigger this effect in Japanese
, where historical *tu and *ti have become [tsu] and [tɕi], respectively, as well as in languages such as Senoufo. (The palatalization
of *tsi to [tɕi] in Japanese is a different process, and does not occur in Senoufo.)
Vowels may also be sulcalized, which has been described as giving them a "throaty" sound (Jones 1967:82). The ɒ vowel of Received Pronunciation
, which is normally described as a rounded, is pronounced by some speakers without rounded lips; for these speakers, the characteristic quality is rather one of sulcality (Lass 1984:124). One scholar has also suggested that the vowel in the RP pronunciation of words like bird, typically transcribed ɜ, is actually a sulcal schwa, retaining the sulcality of the original rhotic consonant; accordingly, he interprets the realization of /ə/ in other contexts such as beard and scarce as the product of a loss of sulcality (Erickson 2003:197).
Phonetics
Phonetics is a branch of linguistics that comprises the study of the sounds of human speech, or—in the case of sign languages—the equivalent aspects of sign. It is concerned with the physical properties of speech sounds or signs : their physiological production, acoustic properties, auditory...
, sulcalization is the pronunciation of a sound, typically a sibilant consonant
Sibilant consonant
A sibilant is a manner of articulation of fricative and affricate consonants, made by directing a stream of air with the tongue towards the sharp edge of the teeth, which are held close together. Examples of sibilants are the consonants at the beginning of the English words sip, zip, ship, chip,...
such as English s and z, with a deep groove running along the back of the tongue that focuses the airstream on the teeth, producing a more intense sound. This is accomplished by raising the sides of the back of the tongue ("lateral contraction") and leaving a hollow along the mid-line. It is not clear if all sibilants are grooved in this manner; Catford (1977) observed that the degree of sulcalization differs between places of articulation as well as between languages, but no language is known to contrast a grooved and non-grooved sibilant. English [ɹ], which allows various tongue positions without apparent distinction, may also receive its characteristic quality from being sulcal.
In phonology
Phonology
Phonology is, broadly speaking, the subdiscipline of linguistics concerned with the sounds of language. That is, it is the systematic use of sound to encode meaning in any spoken human language, or the field of linguistics studying this use...
and historical linguistics
Historical linguistics
Historical linguistics is the study of language change. It has five main concerns:* to describe and account for observed changes in particular languages...
, sulcalization is the development of such a groove in a non-sulcal consonant. For example, close vowel
Close vowel
A close vowel is a type of vowel sound used in many spoken languages. The defining characteristic of a close vowel is that the tongue is positioned as close as possible to the roof of the mouth without creating a constriction that would be classified as a consonant.This term is prescribed by the...
s trigger this effect in Japanese
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
, where historical *tu and *ti have become [tsu] and [tɕi], respectively, as well as in languages such as Senoufo. (The palatalization
Palatalization
In linguistics, palatalization , also palatization, may refer to two different processes by which a sound, usually a consonant, comes to be produced with the tongue in a position in the mouth near the palate....
of *tsi to [tɕi] in Japanese is a different process, and does not occur in Senoufo.)
Vowels may also be sulcalized, which has been described as giving them a "throaty" sound (Jones 1967:82). The ɒ vowel of Received Pronunciation
Received Pronunciation
Received Pronunciation , also called the Queen's English, Oxford English or BBC English, is the accent of Standard English in England, with a relationship to regional accents similar to the relationship in other European languages between their standard varieties and their regional forms...
, which is normally described as a rounded, is pronounced by some speakers without rounded lips; for these speakers, the characteristic quality is rather one of sulcality (Lass 1984:124). One scholar has also suggested that the vowel in the RP pronunciation of words like bird, typically transcribed ɜ, is actually a sulcal schwa, retaining the sulcality of the original rhotic consonant; accordingly, he interprets the realization of /ə/ in other contexts such as beard and scarce as the product of a loss of sulcality (Erickson 2003:197).